Florida Inspectors Close Six Restaurants Across Broward, Palm Beach Counties

The government shutdown may have halted food inspection operations at the Food and Drug Administration, making us think twice about what we buy from grocery stores. But at least Florida restaurant inspectors are still walking the beat, making sure that your favorite eat-out spot isn't cutting corners (someone's gotta pick up the slack, right?).

From Pensacola to Key West, the Florida Department of Professional and Business Regulation conducts random inspections throughout the state and releases a list of locations each week that received emergency closures due to violations.

Of course, inspections are business as usual for government, you know, making sure we're safe from unsanitary eating conditions and all. Most weeks, fewer than ten restaurants receive emergency closure orders. But every now and then, the state goes apeshit on the restaurant industry, and it just so happens that this week, inspectors closed 17 restaurants across the state, including 13 from Broward/Miami/Palm Beach counties.

Most often, it's little hole-in-the-wall spots that get the most closures, but not this time. Most violations were for rodent activity, but some were closed due to sewage leaks and unlicensed activity. By Friday, October 4, all of them were open upon reinspection, except for one that was closed for unlicensed activity.

David Minsky is U.S. Navy veteran and Tulane graduate who has experience reporting on stories from California, South Florida, and the Deep South. He also won some journalism awards. Email or tweet David with story tips and ideas.